Accession Number

2011.005.002b

Description

A gouache and watercolour portrait of an officer (Lt. Robert Dunsmuir Harvey) sitting on a horse in British Hussar regimental uniform, wearing a pith helmet, a vent finial at its top, from his waste hanging low from three gold-coloured straps is his sabretache bearing the gilt brass Royal cypher for Queen Victoria, his sword hanging lower. Draped over the horse's back is a saddle-blanket made from the skin of a large spotted cat, possibly an Indian Leopard. The horse is decorated with a long red tassel from its chin.

Narrative

This original gouache and watercolour portrait depicts Lt. Robert Dunsmuir Harvey (1878-1901) in the uniform he wore while serving in the 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars in India. It was painted in Secunderabad, India, in about 1900.

This painting is among the effects that Robert James Harvey told Craigdarroch Curator Bruce Davies were sent by Lt. Robert Dunsmuir Harvey’s regiment to his Grandmother Dunsmuir and sister Elizabeth Georgina Harvey at Craigdarroch in 1901 following his death in India at age 21. The attending physician recorded that he died from "absess of liver". The vendor’s father’s father, James Swan Harvey (1872-1832), was brother to Robert Dunsmuir Harvey. The vendor previously donated to The Castle Society, four of Lt. R.D. Harvey’s sporting trophies, his cavalry sabretache, and his ceremonial dress gilt cavalry riding spurs. He also sold to The Castle Society Lt. Robert Dunsmuir Harvey's cartridge pouch (see 2011.005.001).

The original gilt or bronze powder-painted frame for this painting was replaced with the current frame by Robert James Harvey in the late 20th century. The gilt mat now in use appears to be contemporary to the painting. 

History of Use

This painting was created in Secunderabad, India and depicts Lt. Robert Dunsmmuir Harvey (1878-1901) while he served in the 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars regiment in India. Following his death in 1901, his regiment sent the painting and other personal effects to his sister Elizabeth Georgina Harvey and his grandmother Joan Olive Dunsmuir at Craigdarroch. Sometime later, the painting and other effects came into possession of R.D. Harvey's brother, Col. James Swan Harvey, who kept them at his residence on Knapp Island, B.C. The painting and other items were next inherited by J.S. Harvey's son, Robert Oliver Dunsmuir Harvey of Victoria, B.C., and then by his son, the late Robert James Harvey who lived in Victoria, Nanaimo, and before his death in 2013, on Denman Island, B.C.

Date

circa 1900

Dimensions

24 x 29 cm

Subject/Image

Lt. Robert Dunsmuir Harvey

Medium

Watercolour; Gouache

Support

Paper

Technique

Painted

Country of Origin

India